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Melissa Ruggieri

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Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff writer Melissa Ruggieri covers the Atlanta Music Scene and other entertainment news for print and ajc.com. Melissa started at the AJC in September 2010 writing about music and entertainment as well as covering the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta. She has a master's in English from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s in journalism from Florida International University. She previously worked as the pop music critic at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two rescue cats.
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Latest from Melissa Ruggieri

On Sunday, Drake will wrap his “Aubrey and The Three Migos Live!” tour with a third and final show at State Farm Arena. The live outing, which started in August to promote his double “Scorpion” album, has featured Atlanta rap trio Migos (and Roy Woods) throughout as well as a slew of unannounced guests. That...

It feels as if every day brings a new reason or 12 for mental exhaustion and tension headaches, so it’s no surprise that holiday tours produce solid business. After all, who among us doesn’t want to forget about life for a while — or at least for 90 minutes — and become immersed in a world of warm sentiments, fake...

Mr. “Nice for What” is taking over Atlanta for three consecutive shows as part of his “Aubrey & the Three Migos Live” tour. In case you need more clarification, Atlanta rap trio Migos is opening for the tour. Drake’s current release, the double album “Scorpion,” has spawned the hit “God&rsquo...

About 150 times a year, I’m in an Atlanta concert venue. And by Atlanta, I mean it could also be Duluth, Peachtree City or Alpharetta. More than most, assumedly, I’ve come home with ringing ears (despite wearing earplugs to every single concert), smelling like various substances, scraping the soles of my sneakers to remove...

For only the second time in his career, Keith Urban walked away from the Country Music Association Awards cradling the most notable award – entertainer of the year. The gracious musician, who earlier in the show blasted through his sexy funk jam, “Never Comin’ Down,” reacted with genuine shock, likely assuming...

Unlike other award shows, the CMAs usually deliver the biggest winners of the night to the media center backstage. Some pop in during the telecast – as Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne and Old Dominion did – while others, usually the major names nominated in later categories, swing through after the show. This year, the...

Unlike other award shows, the CMAs usually deliver the biggest winners of the night to the media center backstage. Some pop in during the telecast – as Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne and Old Dominion did – while others, usually the major names nominated in later categories, swing through after the show. RELATED>> Click...

For only the second time in his career, Keith Urban walked away from the Country Music Association Awards cradling the most notable award - entertainer of the year. The gracious musician, who earlier in the show blasted through his sexy funk jam, “Never Comin’ Down,” reacted with genuine shock, likely assuming that the night&rsquo...

The 2019 edition of Shaky Knees Music Festival will offer the headlining quartet of Tame Impala, Beck, Cage the Elephant and Incubus. The seventh year of the festival will again take place at Central Park in the Old Fourth Ward near downtown Atlanta. More than 65 artists will perform during the May 3-5 event, including Tears for Fears, Gary...

Call it the Tupac effect. When Marty Tudor, executive producer and CEO of Base Hologram, and his colleagues saw the 2012 footage of a “hologram” of Tupac Shakur performing at Coachella, and then a singing and dancing image of Michael Jackson “performing” at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, they thought, “Interesting...

As niche music awards shows go, the CMAs always bring a wicked lineup. The 52nd Country Music Association Awards will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday on ABC and blast off with a performance from Leesburg native and entertainer of the year nominee (he’s won it twice) Luke Bryan. Never one to hog a spotlight, Bryan, who will perform “What...